About Kingdom Hearts

Cosmology

In the fictional universe of the Kingdom Hearts series, beings are composed of three parts: the body, the soul, and the heart. The body is a vessel for the heart and soul, and the soul gives life.[11] The heart gives a being emotion, light, and darkness. Seven maidens, called the "Princesses of Heart", possess no darkness in their hearts. Worlds also possess hearts,[12] and all hearts originate from Kingdom Hearts. Beings are corrupted when darkness takes their heart, producing the Heartless from their hearts and sometimes producing a Nobody from the remaining body and soul. Heartless act as forces of darkness, seeking to consume more hearts, including those of worlds. The "heart of all worlds" and the source of hearts is Kingdom Hearts. An object of immense power, it is desired by many forces of darkness and a path to it is opened by the unison of the Princesses of Heart. Nomura tried to convey a common theme of "hearts" and the strengths and connections of the heart in all three of the Square Enix games.[7]

The fictional universe of the Kingdom Hearts series is divided into planes of existence called "realms". Most of the series takes place in the "realm of light". Opposite the realm of light is the "realm of darkness", where Kingdom Hearts resides. There is also an "in-between realm", a plane where Nobodies, as well as the worlds they reside in, come into existence. There are four worlds that are currently known to be found exclusively within this "in-between realm".[13] Each world found within the in-between plane are tied more closely to either the realm of light or the realm of darkness by varying degrees. As well as these known realms, Ansem the Wise was banished to a "realm of nothingness",[14] which he described as a realm "where all existence has been disintegrated".

Heartless

Heartless (ハートレス, Hātoresu?) are hearts corrupted by darkness and without a body or a soul. They serve as most of the battles and challenges that the player must go through in the Kingdom Hearts games. They come in a large variety of types, categorized by being Pureblood or Emblem, both reproducing by taking more hearts and transforming them into other Heartless. Emblem Heartless were artificially created and are labeled with the Heartless insignia, a heart symbol with a thorny cross. Pureblood Heartless are black shadow creatures born of pure darkness. The Heartless obey those with the stronger will to control them.[16] However, in worlds too close to darkness, the Heartless get stronger and become uncontrollable. The Heartless invade worlds through corridors of darkness—unpredictable pathways that interlink the many worlds.[17] Heartless are commonly portrayed as having bright yellow eyes, dark colors, and zigzagging patterns and features.

Nobodies

Nobodies (ノーバディ, Nōbadi?) are creatures without hearts. They are leftovers "born" in the in-between realm, and exist as the body and soul of people who lost their hearts to darkness.[18] As they lack hearts to possess light or darkness,[19] they are nothing, according to the cosmology of the Kingdom Hearts universe,[20] but still exist. Unlike Heartless, Nobodies are able to attack with definite planning.[21] Dusk is the most common type of Nobody. Other Nobodies include Twilight Thorn, Creeper, and multiple kinds of Nobody ships. The members of Organization XIII, being the most powerful Nobodies because of the strong hearts they had when they were "whole", kept human form while weaker ones assumed malformed, inhuman forms.[22] Most of the members of the Organization tend to control one type of Nobody, usually suited to their fighting style.[23] The lesser Nobodies are branded with the Nobodies' insignia, an upside-down, incomplete heart. Nobodies are also prominently white or pale-colored, and appear to display spiky features on their bodies.

Unbirths

Unbirths (アンバース, Anbāsu?) are a third type of creature which will appear in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, though no other information about them is available at this time. They prominently feature the color blue and have sharp, angular features and bright red eyes. The only named Unbirth to appear thus far is the Wheel Master (ホイールマスター, Hoīru Masutā?), a boss in the demo featured during DKΣ3713.[24]

Keyblade

The Keyblade (キーブレード, Kīburēdo?) is a key-shaped weapon with the power to combat darkness and free hearts from the Heartless.[25] It also has the ability to lock and unlock all manner of doors and keyholes primarily via a beam of light that eminates from the bit of the Keyblade.[26] The Keyblade chooses its wielder and will appear in that person's hand when summoned. Another important power is that it can lock the "heart" of a world, preventing it from being destroyed by Heartless. In Kingdom Hearts II, it can also unlock the pathways between worlds that were closed after the events of the first game.[27] There are different Keyblades, possessed by various characters in the Kingdom Hearts series. Xehanort's Heartless created an artificial Keyblade from the hearts of six of the Princesses of Heart with the ability to unlock the darkness in people's hearts, turning them into Heartless.[28] The people known to wield a Keyblade are Sora, Riku, Kairi, King Mickey, Roxas, Xion, Terra, Aqua, Ven, Master Xehanort and his apprentice.

Worlds

In the Kingdom Hearts universe, travel between worlds is normally not possible. Worlds are protected from extraterrestrial interference by an invisible shell.[13][29] When the heart of a world is opened, the shell breaks apart, appearing as a meteor shower.[13][30] Fragments from the wall are able to be constructed into "Gummi Ships", which serve as the main mode of travel between the various worlds. Gummi Ships are constructed from "Gummi blocks" and can be shaped into any structure; the origin of the Gummi Ship material allows for travel to other worlds.[13][31] Gummi blocks can serve different functions, from navigation to offense and defense.[1][32] Another method to travel between worlds are the "corridors of darkness"—interdimensional pathways which erode the user's heart with darkness.[13] These pathways are normally used by Heartless and Nobodies,[17] but have been used by other characters in the series.